Introduction
As the world continues to transition towards renewable energy sources, the efficiency and longevity of solar panel installations play a crucial role in maximizing their contribution to a sustainable future. Autonomous mobile robots are revolutionizing the solar energy sector by enhancing the precision and frequency of inspections, reducing downtime, and operational costs.
Husky Observer in Action
Husky Observer, a fully integrated autonomous inspection robot, was recently deployed at a large solar facility. Its mission was to navigate countless rows of solar panels and identify any potential issues using its onboard thermal camera. This robot can also perform various other routine tasks and jobs on a solar farm, including:
- Cable inspection: Identifying poor bend radius or loose/frayed cabling.
- Vegetation monitoring: Identifying areas where vegetation or debris may be obstructing the solar panels.
- Site surveillance: Monitoring site activity and identifying intruders (people or animals).
Husky Observer navigating through rows of solar panels.
Taking a Closer Look
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are already commonly used to inspect and survey solar facilities. However, UAV inspections often struggle with battery life and are unable to inspect and capture data on the underside of the solar panels. Autonomous mobile ground robots, like Husky Observer, are well suited to navigate the narrow spaces between the rows of panels. They can methodically inspect each panel, detecting potential problems such as loose wiring, corrosion, or dirt accumulation that might affect performance.
Husky Observer with its PTZ camera pointed towards the underside of a solar panel.
The Software Making it All Possible
OutdoorNav, our outdoor autonomy software, was used to define routes, waypoints, and inspection tasks. Through the web-based UI, Husky Observer was programmed to drive down the rows of panels and continuously capture geo-referenced thermal and colour imagery. After completion, the thermal images were post-processed to identify hot spots and inspected for signs of damage in the colour imagery. An example of a located hot spot is shown below.
Processed thermal photo detecting a hot spot on the underside of a solar panel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is the purpose of Husky Observer?
Husky Observer is a fully integrated autonomous inspection robot designed to navigate and inspect solar panels, detect potential issues, and optimize solar farm performance.
Question 2: What makes Husky Observer different from other inspection robots?
Husky Observer is a mobile robot that can navigate the narrow spaces between solar panels, capturing high-resolution thermal and colour imagery, and providing detailed insights on solar panel performance.
Question 3: Can Husky Observer inspect the underside of solar panels?
Yes, Husky Observer is equipped with a PTZ camera that can capture high-resolution images of the underside of solar panels, allowing for more accurate and comprehensive inspections.
Question 4: What is the software used to control Husky Observer?
OutdoorNav, our outdoor autonomy software, is used to define routes, waypoints, and inspection tasks, allowing Husky Observer to efficiently and effectively navigate and inspect solar panels.
Question 5: Can Husky Observer be integrated with other systems?
Yes, Husky Observer can be integrated with other systems, such as solar monitoring systems, to provide a comprehensive and integrated solution for solar farm management.
Conclusion
Husky Observer is a cutting-edge autonomous inspection robot that is revolutionizing the solar energy sector. Its ability to navigate and inspect solar panels, detect potential issues, and optimize solar farm performance makes it an indispensable asset for solar farm operators. By integrating robots like Husky Observer into solar farm operations, customers can enhance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and ensure that solar energy systems perform at their best, contributing to a more sustainable and reliable energy future.
